Proverbs 24:16

In ministry there is a constant onslaught of people who desire to give up, say that can't do it, and that do not persevere. Why? Because they might not have the Holy Spirit within them. Pretty bold statement some may say, but let us look at this scripture, Proverbs 24:16 "For though the rigteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes."

Here we see two different people, the 'Righteous' and the 'Wicked.' I pray that no one even goes to the place where they say "I am not wicked because I make the wrong choices, or that we can still have the Holy Spirit in us when we do wicked things."The key here is that the scripture calls us to be Holy and Righteous. It does not say we are all going to sin, it is okay to sin, but that we all have sinned. So now we can all agree that we all believe scripture to be 'True.'

SO let us take a look at the 'Righteous' man in this verse. Did he quit? Did he give up? Has he made exuses? No! He gets up and gets right back into a righteous state through repentance. Sin no longer masters him. The church and Christians have really blown it when they attempt to encourage people by saying "It's okay, we all sin." "That's okay, God loves you." "Try your best, that is all God desires." For some reason we try to pacify people by not telling them the truth and encouraging with scripture. If God has called us to be righteous (and He has) then why would we tell someone the opposite? Wicked is wicked. Sin is sin. It does nto matter if we stoled the cookie or the cookie jar, it is still sin and sin is wicked.

So, can the Holy Spirit dwell in someone that does not persevere? "No." One of the most important purposes of the Holy Spirit is to turn people from wickedness, and to Righteousness.

James 1:13-15 explains this really well "When tempted, no one should say "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full grown, gives birth to death." Now, I hope we all see that wickedness and sin are of our own choice, and not always soemthing we can blame on the devil. If you fall, "Get up!" If you are truly a Christian you will "Get up!" The wicked will always blame someone or something for their fall, and they would rather make excuse than to "Get up!" If we fall, then may we always get up and get right back into that rightoues state with God~